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Friday, 11 October 2013

After preordering this in January (for a June release) and then having it pushed back a further two months, it feels like I've been waiting forever for this set to arrive. After doing a fantastic job with their various Panty & Stocking with Garterbeltsets, Phat Company have returned with another 2-pack in that style...only this one is a little different. Celebrating the 5th anniversary of Gurren Lagann (which as you all should know by now is my favourite anime series), this new set reimagines lead heroines Yoko and Nia (along with Boota) in Panty & Stocking style. These figurines were based off designs by Atsushi Nishigori - the character designer for both series.

While the Angel version Panty & Stocking figures came in fastened packaging that could be opened without damaging the box, this Gurren Lagann set has reverted to normal bubble packaging which means if you want to open them the packaging needs to be permanently damaged. The front backing card is nice and colourful, and rather reminiscent of some of the background you might find in the Nia artbook. The back is simple but really effective - we have the original art these figurines were based off of, including the colour palettes used for any artist nerds among us.

Despite Yoko having an identical expression to the standard Panty release, both Nishigori and Phat Company have really knocked these designs out the park. Yoko feels like the most substantial figure in my collection (which includes them all bar the Galaxxxy set), not just because of the inclusion of her huge rifle but also her impressively chunky hair. The cartoonish toning on the hair looks superb, with Yoko's attire fitting in nicely with the colourful world of P&SwG.

Then we have Nia, who for obvious reasons I was excited for the most. It sucks a little bit that this is probably the best Nia figure I'll ever get without having to resort to statues, but if I never get my articulated figure of her I'm happy to call this the best. She's just a colourful bundle of joy (especially those eyes!), and the cartoony style couldn't suit her childish innocence any better.

Finally with have Boota, who's been included as the extra piece just the Chucks/Fastener/Heaven coin of previous released. While Yoko and Nia have arguably been made cuter by their new aesthetic, Boota looks pretty darn evil. Up like a angry cat and his sunglasses in a pretty sinister shape, I would not want to mess with this little molepig.

I love all of my Phat Company figure sets, but this is something REALLY special. A brilliant anniversary item and a wonderful cross between the two closely connected franchises, my only regret is that the characters never cameoed on P&SwG in these forms.